Legal Services

May provide legal advice, assistance, and representation to First Nations and Métis clients who live in the Capital Regional District and who can’t afford a lawyer. Staff work with First Nations communities and organizations to provide accessible and holistic legal services to their members. They also help with access to the Human Rights Clinic.

The clinic provides advice, assistance, and representation to eligible clients who can’t afford a lawyer and who self-identify as Indigenous. They help with administrative and civil law matters, criminal matters, Aboriginal law/Indigenous legal issues, family law matters, child protection, human rights complaints, and more.

Free legal advice and representation on issues such as criminal summary offences, civil resolution, small claims, residential tenancy, WorkSafeBC, consumer protection, EI, CPP and Old-Age Pension, wills and estates, and immigration and refugee issues. They may draft certain types of legal documents such as demand letters, wills, and more.

This student-staffed free legal clinic provides legal help and advice to eligible people. They represent clients in areas including residential tenancy, employment standards, small claims, human rights claims, and some criminal charges. They draft legal documents such as simple wills, demand letters, powers of attorney, and more.

Provides low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender-diverse people. Volunteer lawyers offer summary advice about legal issues you may have — family law, human rights, employment, immigration, etc. (But they can’t take on your case and act for you as your lawyer.) They can also notarize documents, for example for a name or gender change.

Legal Aid BC staff who give legal information and limited legal advice, including about the legal process. They also attend court with you, help you prepare forms and letters, participate in negotiations, talk on your behalf (to MCFD staff, legal aid lawyers, duty counsel, or your band), and give referrals to other services.

Nidus can help you with personal planning. You can contact them on behalf of an adult you’re helping. They have a trained volunteer who helps with education, with forms for making a representation agreement, and with using the Nidus Registry. You need to book ahead for an in-person appointment in South Granville Seniors Centre (in Vancouver).

Family experts are available on the helpline to answer your questions about the Disability Tax Credit, the Registered Disability Savings Plan, estate planning, advocacy approaches, government benefit programs, social network building, and more.

Free information and referrals to help you deal with your legal issues. Questions are answered by UBC law students on weekdays from 11 am to 2 pm. Questions outside these hours will receive a response the next business day. Ask JES is supported by a knowledge base of over 1,000 legally reviewed questions and answers.

Provides legal information services to the public via a network of libraries in BC courthouses. Visit our website & learn how the libraries provide access to staff expertise, print and digital legal collections, and public computers. You’re encouraged to call or email before visiting as they can provide many services this way & can save you time.